Leis, garlands and the like

ABSTRACT

Means and steps for making a lei from elongated strips of flexible material such as ribbons and the like. It involves the formation of laced mats and means to limit expansion of the lei.

United States Patent Libert Kuuleiilunalilo O'Sullivan 1239 Ulupii SL, Kailua, Hawaii 96734; Libert Amori OSuliivan, 2040 C, 9th Ave.,

[72] Inventors Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 [21 Appl. No. 835,203 [22] Filed June 20, 1969 [45] Patented Nov.23, 1971 54] LEIS, GARLANDS AND THE LIKE 2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 852,747 5/1907 Thun 87/9 1,862,340 6/1932 Hoeflich. 161/15 2,036,805 4/1936 Hale 1 87/9 2,076,945 4/1937 Hoeflich 161/15 Primary Examiner-John T. Goolkasian Assistant Examiner-Henry F. Epstein Att0rney Earl E. Moore ABSTRACT: Means and steps for making a lei from elongated strips of flexible material such as ribbons and the like. it involves the formation of laced mats and means to limit expansion of the lei.

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ATTORNEY LEIS, GARLANDS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to leis, wreaths, and garlands etc. wherein fabrics of various ribbonlike forms are employed instead of the usual flowers etc. Leis are well known to the Pacific islanders and their use of flowers and grasses in their formation as a common expediency.

This invention, however, employs strands or ribbonlike strips of fabric and/or plastics of various colors and textures and which may include satins, silks, rayons, nylons, cotton etc. just to name a few. The strips or ribbons are of sufficient length to form a plurality of mats or pads and the ribbons are interlaced neatly to present a column having a plurality of facets. A large number of mats are created and arranged to provide a flexible column which is looped and adapted to pass over a person's head and draped upon his shoulders.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to present a new and novel lei and the like which is beautiful to behold and enjoy and which is formed of mats through a method of lacing to provide an everlasting lei and the like.

Another object is to provide a lei which has body and a set form which is economical to make and manufacture.

Still another object is to introduce a method and means to create lei formations in accordance to the expositions made in this application.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is an elevational view of a complete lei and shown on a reduced scale;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, parts broken away, of some ribbons in combination with a tube as a ribbon-holding means for the purposes of illustrating how to start the formation of a lei in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, parts broken away, showing how the various ribbons are interlaced to form mats;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, parts broken away, of a portion of the lei where the ends thereof are fastened together and bows provided;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the general form along any cross-sectional portion of the lei;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, parts broken away, showing in more detail how the ribbon ends are joined together about a ring element;

FIG. 8 is a plan view, parts broken away, showing a modified form of the invention and the manner in starting same;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the general cross-sectional shape anywhere along the length of the lei;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, parts broken away, along one side of a lei.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the reference character I indicates a hollow tube which serves as a removable handle. This tube may be of any suitable material, but a light weight metal is preferred. A typical clamp means 2 is provided having the pair of finger lever formed grips 4 and 5 and an integral extension tab 3. The clamp is preferably of the same material as the tube 1 and the part 3 is welded or brazed thereto to form a unit. The clamp is of the well-known spring type found in stationary stores and is opened by pressing the finger levers together.

Four ribbons 6, 7, 8 and 9 pass through the tube 1. The ribbon 7 has been chosen as the heart cord and is always positioned with respect to the other ribbons as shown, that is, it is always centered for it is the ribbon which limits the length of the lei so that the mats formed do not expand beyond a certain predetermined distance whether or not the bows are tied. Obviously, the heart cord coils to a cordlike appearance.

A mat is formed by lacing as shown in FIG. 4. The ribbon 6 is crossed over the top of the tube 1, as shown, and ribbon 9 crosses over the ribbon 6 to another side of the tube, then ribbon 8 crosses over ribbon 9 and is then passed under ribbon 6 to hold the mat in form. When the ribbons are pulled and adjusted, a mat like type A is formed and this is shown in solid lines in FIG. 4. The bends of the ribbons 6", 9 and 8 form edges 6', 9' and 8 respectively, and which folded edges present three surfaces or facets which make up three alternately spaced sides of the column of the lei when finished.

On top of mat A is formed a mat B and this mat B is shown in broken lines. Ribbon 8 is folded over and across 6, 6 is folded over and across 9, and 9 is folded over and beneath 8. This mat B is superimposed on mat A and then another mat like A is superimposed upon mat B and this work is continued until the lei is of the length desired.

In practice, each strand or ribbon is 20 yards long except the heart cord 7 which is 6 feet long if a 6 feet long loop is desired. This heart cord eventually has its ends tied, and in this manner the lei is limited to about 6 feet. At the start end and the finish end of the lei, about 2 feet of ribbon ends are not matted so that these ends can be combined together to form bows, that is. 3 bows like the one shown in FIG. 5 at X.

It should be made clear here, that mat B has edges or folds like mat A and they are best indicated in FIG. 4 wherein double prime numbers are employed to show the facets created by mat B along the column of the lei, note FIG. 5 in this regard.

When the long column of the lei is terminated, the ribbon ends are treated. The ends of the ribbons 6, 8 and 9 are wrapped around a ring which is indicated at 10 in FIG. 7 after the tube 1 has been removed. This operation sets the last formed mat and prepares the ribbons for making the bows like X. Then the ends of the cord 7 are tied together to limit the stretch of the lei. Then the bows are fonned by paired ribbons. Thus we have a finished lei as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 concern a modified form of the invention. In this fonn, the method of making the mats is almost the same as described in the first form of the invention. Instead of a cross-sectional hexagon fonn being formed, an equilateral triangle is forrned having the general form as shown in FIG. 9 having the sides indicated in general by the numeral ll, 12 and 13. With reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 8, the solid lines show the first step in forming a mat whether hexagon or triangular form. Now, the broken lines in FIG. 4 must be disregarded in that the ribbon end 8 is folded back upon itself, and then ribbon end 9 is folded back upon itself and over ribbon 8, then ribbon end 6 is folded back upon itself and tucked under the fold of ribbon 8.

The first mat of either form of the invention will appear as shown in FIG. 8 when the ribbons are pulled close, but in the first form of the invention this is not done for the obvious reason that a hexagon is to be formed. However, when a triangle is formed, the ribbons may be pulled snugly together as shown in FIG. 8 and all the mats are in alignment.

As shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, three strips of ribbons I4 and I5 and 16' are illustrated and their bent portions l4, l5 and 16 respectively. When these ribbons are folded over themselves each time for each mat, the last ribbon folded is always tucked under the first folded ribbon. When the ribbons of each mat are pulled close together, an elongated lei is formed having three sides or facets. The operation is the same as that described for the first form of the invention.

Thus a finished lei is made by lacing strands or ribbons. In both cases, an accordionlike column is formed and presents a very attractive lei that is simple in construction but has a complex appearance.

Certain novel features and details of this invention are disclosed herein, and in some cases in considerable detail, and this is in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details disclosed since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described and claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed and believed new andwhich is desired to be secured by Letters patent is:

l. A lei formed of elongated strips of flexible material wherein one end of each strip is fastened together and wherein one of the strips is selected as a heart cord about which the other strips are laced as follows:

A first strip is layed at an angle to the length axis of the lei,

4 r desired length. Fasten the ends of the heart cord together to limit expansion of the lei.

2. The lei recited in claim 1 wherein the strips are pulled 5 together about the heart cord to form a three-sided lei.

'UK III II 

2. The lei recited in claim 1 wherein the strips are pulled together about the heart cord to form a three-sided lei. 